Bayou Corne Sinkhole~..Excellent Full 2 Minute Video at Ground Level

Also, here is an excellent map that shows the salt dome area, the Bayou Corne Community in relation, the bubble sites and all FIFTY of the caverns IN the Napoleonville Salt Dome and what is contained in them.


5:30 p.m. Napoleonville Salt Dome Map
September 21, 2012 //Click here to access a map of the wells and bubble event locations in the Napoleonville Salt Dome and Bayou Corne areas.

[link to dnr.louisiana.gov]

*NOTE*
Each well is identified and below is a “key” on how to read the ID.

151646 (Permit #)
TEXAS BRINE COMPANY LLC (Industry)
OXY GEISMAR 002 (Well Name)
Brine (Permitted to Use)
28467225 BBLS (Total Capacity in barrels cavern can hold-NOT necessarily the volume stored)
ACTIVE INJECTION (Cavern Status)

The blue dots represent water wells, below is how to read the ID.

2 (Map #)
007-73 (State Registration #)
20,400 ug/l (Methane Concentration)
9/5/2012 (Date tested for Methane)

[link to assumptionla.wordpress.com]

Sorry if I'm debunking too many myths, like media blackouts, and the hiding of things like with only 7 second videos of sinkhole shown....trees dying all around the site.

Here's some possible doom and gloom for y'all.

Latest update:

4:00PM Drilling Update

September 22, 2012 //Texas Brine has advised us that drilling should reach the cavern in approximately 2-4 hours. DEQ and DNR are both on site. Upon entry, if gas is present venting will take place immediately. DEQ plans to pull two samples from the cavern- testing for gas and brine. Updates to follow!

[link to assumptionla.wordpress.com]

The word is if we're going to blow, it will be when the cavern is entered. That would be within the next 3 hours now.

Thank you OP for the info and I will be watching this for an up-date.

I am confused now that you said there "myths". Is this a dangerous situation or not?
I have been worried about it and checking all the threads for updates.

Wow, that is freaking huge? How will they stop it from growing bigger and bigger.? Will it explode?

Get you EQ sites up,just in case.

Thanks I assumed they were ever green.

I'd say they are dying...unfortunately. They are not on solid ground.

Didnt see any signs of massive gas bubbling up.
Other two men in video not wearing gas masks.

Is this where they had massive gas leaking up?

ummm i thought drilling stopped???? and they moved to different spot n started over . hmmmmmmmmmmmmmmm

That was on the water aquifire one I think, all the news got mixed up, texas brine had to fix there rig yesterday, They are drilling again now unless they've finished.

ty alexis,i think more than we r mixed up.

I think this must be the snub drill that was mentioned in examiner that replaces the sonic drill into the salf dome.

At least part of the gas issue is that something is producing methane bubbles at many locations. $-6 companies did tests in june in various locations that produced these result. There was hydrogen sulphide or something similar in 2 test sites. Not sure, but I think the drilling into the salt dome close to the sinkhole was to explore wht was there ( now they know for sure there is at least, gs, and vent it.

I suspect the multiple releases through out the area are not just from one cavern of accumulated gases. I am concerned about a crumbling growing caving in side of the sinkhole being basically where gas pipe is laid. It has been said that the gas pipelines ( I think I saw 2 in one graphic) were not leaking, but I don't know that the truth would be told, and I don't know how they would know it is not leaking outward underground

Looks just like any other swamp you've seen there.

In fact, the entire State looks like that...


Whoopie!!!


Until you have monsters/demons/dead people crawling out of it or the whole place goes up in flames, stop bothering us with this shit.

The Texas Brine cavern has been reached:

8:45 p.m. Cavern Has Been Entered

September 22, 2012 //Drilling has entered the cavern and no gas was encountered. They will drill down 80 additional feet to make sure there are no obstructions and then back out to the cavern’s top to begin wire line surveying, which will take place for the next 48 hours.

[link to assumptionla.wordpress.com]


You are correct Alexis. The probe well for gas was relocated. The big drill going to the cavern was changed out for the last 900 feet in lieu of a snubbing drill.

To clarify, gas is not gushing out all over the place. We are having areas of gas bubbles coming up through the bayou waters, and in some landlocked areas, and gas was discovered at 90 feet with geoprobe rigs. They are placing geoprobe observation wellsin other various areas.

True, we have a serious problem, but please don't light us up just yet.

Sounds like there's no gas in the cavern which is very good news, and as expected concidering it was filled with brine. Lets hope when they start the surveying they find no big problems.

Last Edited by alexisj9 on 09/23/2012 12:45 AM

Yes, but let's do hope that they do find THE problem. We were hoping that was going to be the problem. Not saying it still isn't the cause of the sinkhole though. Seems we have two different issues going on, but obviously related.

Thanks for your level headed thoughts and support. Will update when we get news of the cavern testing!

Sorry, I meant to respond to you. Yes, dangerous situation. The myths I referred to are of media blackouts, and purposely short videos of the sinkhole as if to hide something, among other things.

So it seems gas was in the cavern afterall:


Texas Brine Company, LLC
UPDATE

September 23, 2012

1. At 8:05 p.m. Saturday evening, the drilling of the Observation Well reached
and penetrated plugged brine cavern #3. Drilling continued into the cavern
where neither gas pressure nor brine pressure was initially observed.

Approximately an hour and a half later, moderate gas pressure in the range
of 800-900 psi appeared at the wellhead along with what appears to be liquid
hydrocarbon material. Subsequently, the gas was flared off through the
night and liquids collected. Samples of both the gas and liquids have been
taken for analysis.

2. Diagnostic procedures are commencing immediately to gather more
information on the cavern conditions. Results from this diagnostic work

should be available within the next 48 to 72 hours.
3. There has been no additional sloughing of the edges of the sinkhole. Experts
are trying to determine how much more sloughing of the saturated earthen
material on the sinkhole perimeter can be expected.

[link to www.texasbrine.com]

11:00 a.m. Current Activities @ Drilling Site
September 23, 2012 //Update from Texas Brine:

They have shut in and ceased the flaring operations at the drill site to pull the drill stem out of the hole. Due to pressure, they expect that to take until late this afternoon (dark) to complete. After that is complete, they will begin caliper logging (wireline surveying*) of formation salt as well as cement bond inside the casing. If these activities go according to schedule, they will then enter with a sonar tool to begin the first tests required of the cavern. At this time, it is not know if the cavern has been compromised – these tests will provide initial data to determine the integrity of the cavern.

*What is wireline surveying?

Wireline surveys determine physical properties in and beyond the wall of a borehole by devices attached to a cable, or wireline. Subsurface geologic conditions and engineering characteristics can be derived directly or indirectly from the wide variety of measurable properties available by wireline surveying.

[link to assumptionla.wordpress.com]

Picture of a Typical Bald Cypress tree in the winter....not white, but light gray.

[link to fineartamerica.com]

The bark of the bald cypress ranges in color from reddish-brown to gray.

[link to www.ehow.com]


Battle Creek Cypress Swamp is one of the northernmost stands of
bald cypress trees. These unusual conifers shed their feathery leaves in
the fall. In winter, their gray, shreddy bark distinguishes bald cypress
from other deciduous trees.

[link to dnr.state.md.us]




Here is some more information from the Assumption Parish Blog-Frequest Questions and answers:

Question in bold.

Areas of concern due to mandatory evacuation:
·air quality in community, around sinkhole, Texas Brine cavern, water well(s), bubbling sites in Bayou Corne and Grand Bayou?

DEQ has continued to conduct air sampling in the area, and DEQ worked with the Office of Conservation in having an EPA overflight to detect significant concentrations of natural gas, radioactivity and chemicals in the area – that flight, as well as DEQ monitoring, show no harmful concentrations
Per LDEQ:

DEQ, EPA, Assumption Parish OEP and Sage Environmental have been conducting air monitoring at an unprecedented rate in the area and found absolutely no cause for health concern related to air pollution. The Department of Health and Hospitals is reviewing all data and confirms this fact. All of DEQ’s final data is posted on the DEQ website developed specifically for the Bayou Corne incident. [link to www.deq.louisiana.gov] It is worth noting that the amount of natural gas in the bubbles in the bayou is so slight that infrared cameras cannot “see” hydrocarbon vapors coming from them, and these cameras are able to see vapors from a cigarette lighter, so you can see how miniscule the amount of gas coming from these bubble sites really is.

[link to assumptionla.com]

This matters, why? All of LA is a dirty, bug and bad reptiles filled swamp.

[link to petitions.whitehouse.gov (secure)]

Louisiana needs help, it might not directly affect you... but these people down there are in danger as the situation escalates. the least we can do is try to get them more help than they're getting, and it's as easy as signing this petition! please do so!

As some know, the cavern was entered,and everyone was waiting for results of if there is damage, and the cause.

Owners of the cavern, Texas Brine, took it upon themselves to hold a press conference at 10:30 pm last night,and informed the press that it (they) determined that there was damage to the cavern, and that damage was caused by the earthquakes we are having.....effectively relieving Texas Brine of responsibility. The local and state officials, nor the residents of Assumption Parish were notified of this conclusion, or of the press conference. Here are just two of the news reports that was a shock to everyone.

[link to theadvocate.com]

“Texas Brine and the experts who have reviewed the available data believe that the damage to brine cavern No. 3 originated with regional-scale seismic activity,” the statement says.


[link to www.wbrz.com]


BAYOU CORNE- Scientists discovered a salt brine cavern, deep under Assumption Parish, has been damaged. Seismic activity in the area is blamed.

"The cavern damage was caused by an external source," a spokesperson for Texas Brine said in a news release late Monday.


In response, Assumption Parish Officials, hit back with this statement, and IMO, a relatively forcefull statement:


9:30 a.m. Assumption Officials Respond to Texas Brine’s Press Release

[link to assumptionla.wordpress.com]

September 25, 2012 //Assumption Parish officials have been advised by DNR that their exploratory well observers have confirmed that brine cavern #3 has failed. Per Texas Brine’s press release, “The tool used to measure cavern depth bottomed out at approximately 4,000 feet – a point estimated to be 1,300 feet higher than the floor had been measured prior to the cavern closure in 2011. This preliminary finding indicates that some type of dense material has fallen to the bottom of the cavern. A sample of the material has been retrieved from the cavern floor and will be analyzed. The retrieved material does not appear to be consistent with material normally found in brine cavern operations. We expect that the sonar inspection that is currently being conducted will provide a more detailed image of the cavern’s interior conditions and the possible source of the material at its base.” This statement confirms the suspicions of parish officials: Texas Brine Oxy Cavern #3 had failed.

It has come to our attention that Texas Brine’s press release was released to the media at 10:31 p.m. last night, prior to consulting with parish and state officials. Parish officials are not in agreement with Texas Brine’s preliminary conclusion that their well was damaged by “regional-scale seismic activity” (earthquakes). Given the confirmation of the failure of Texas Brine’s cavern, the parish will continue to look to Texas Brine for accountability and evacuee assistance.

The mandatory evacuation order will remain in place.

Parish and state officials are working together to host and coordinate a public meeting to provide additional and updated information in the near future. The time and date of this meeting will be circulated via blog posts, press release, and phone calls to residents. If you have any questions, please feel free to call the Assumption Parish Office of Homeland Security & Emergency Preparedness at 985-369-7386 or stop by the command post.


AND



2:45 p.m. News Release from DNR
September 25, 2012 //Office of Conservation Orders Texas Brine to Report Well Findings

Order requires samples, data and analysis be provided to Office of Conservation

BATON ROUGE – Louisiana Commissioner of Conservation James Welsh today placed new requirements on Texas Brine LLC for providing data and analysis promptly to the Office of Conservation, in addition to the existing orders issued to the company in response to the formation of the sinkhole/slurry area next to the company’s abandoned brine cavern in the Napoleonville Salt Dome.

Welsh said the amendment to the existing Declaration of Emergency and Directive came following Texas Brine’s unilateral declaration that its cavern had been breached due to regional seismic activity.

Texas Brine issued a statement late Monday night making the claim of a regional seismic cause for the cavern failure and citing U.S. Geological Survey (USGS) seismic analysis, without prior notice or consultation with state agencies, Assumption Parish officials or the Science Work Group created to support investigation of the sinkhole/slurry area and ongoing presence of natural gas in the ground water and surface water near the Bayou Corne community.

On Tuesday, USGS Senior Adviser for Earthquake and Geologic Hazards William Leith stated that USGS consensus is that the seismic activity detected in the area is a consequence of the cavern collapse, not the cause of the collapse and sinkhole/slurry area.
“Texas Brine has elected to let its own interests guide a premature conclusion lacking sufficient supporting analysis – breaking away from the ongoing cooperative effort to apply scientific principles to determine causes and impacts, guided by the need for accurate data and analysis to best protect public safety,” Welsh said.

“The investigation and the remediation for environmental damages will be driven by the best science available and carried out to standards set by the state of Louisiana to ensure the safety of the Bayou Corne community – and will not be driven by Texas Brine’s timetable or concerns about corporate liability.”

The new requirements for Texas Brine include turning over the studies and data the company claims show seismic activity as the cause for the collapse, immediate reporting of changes to cavern status and immediate reporting of activity logs, well logs and test results generated by the company’s activities involving the cavern. To ensure transparency to the public, Texas Brine must immediately report any change in the cavern conditions to the Office of Conservation. The Office stands ready to issue penalties or other fines to Texas Brine should it not comply.

Welsh said the Office of Conservation will continue to maintain a constant and active presence in the parish and on the well site – including 24/7 oversight at the well site by Office Conservation staff to ensure safe and responsible operations.

The Office of Conservation also will continue to have contract staff from the Shaw Group on the drilling site, performing ongoing testing and analysis, including:

•Sampling of natural gas in the cavern to compare with natural gas found in other areas near the Bayou Corne community
•Analysis of results of sonar testing to determine the current profile of the cavern structure
•Determining stability of the roof of the cavern
•Analysis of types of fluids found in the cavern

These tests, combined with the cooperative efforts of the state agencies such as the Department of Environmental Quality (DEQ) to sample and assess the cavern contents, will assist in determining possible causes of the cavern collapse and how it may be linked to the ongoing situation near the Bayou Corne community, Welsh said.

Welsh said he has also directed the Office’s contractor to perform an independent root cause analysis of the cavern failure.

The Office of Conservation is also continuing the work, through its contractor, of establishing locations to drill water wells near the Bayou Corne community to assess the presence of natural gas and ensure it is removed.

The Office is also ensuring that salt dome operators in the area are complying with the directive to assess the presence of natural gas beneath their facilities and remove where needed to protect public safety, and continue to coordinate efforts and share information with the Office’s contractor staff.

“We are committed to doing things the right way, making the process as transparent as possible for the public, taking action supported by science and holding the responsible parties accountable, all with the goal of protecting the people and the environment and a return to normalcy – and we will be here until the job is done,” Welsh said.


[link to assumptionla.wordpress.com]

State Police Fly Over 10/02/12



You will note there are no whirlpools, and more trees are turning gray, even far in the distance. Soon, they will all be gray, as is normal for our winters here.